China, Indonesia in defense cooperation

BEIJING, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- China and Indonesia concluded a defense cooperation agreement Wednesday, making Indonesia the first ASEAN member to enter into such a strategic partnership.

The agreement was signed in Beijing by Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan and his Indonesian counterpart Juwono Sudarsono, the Xinhua news agency reported.

Details of the agreement weren't provided but Cao was quoted as telling Juwono that his country is ready to work with Indonesia to promote comprehensive development of relations between the two armed forces.

ASEAN -- the Association of Southeast Asian Nations -- is an economic group whose other members are Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.